Circles in the Park 5K

Race Day Schedule - Mar 13, 2027

7:00 am - Registration and Check-in Opens (bib distribution and last minute sign-up*) 
7:30 am - Optional walk through of course 
7:50 am - Registration Closes 
8:00 am - 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run Starts
9:30 am - Award Ceremony
* same day sign-ups will be via your phone - no cash

Parking

Race parking will be in field to your right as you turn in (next to the dog park). Please reserve normal parking (ahead on the left near the track) for normal (non Circles DC 5K) park parking.

Registration

You can sign up on race day by using a phone and then showing us the completion screen. We will manually add you to the timing system and give you a bib and a t-shirt. https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/VillaRica/CirclesDouglasCounty5K

Location

Clinton Nature Preserve - Villa Rica, GA
8720 Ephesus Church Rd, Villa Rica, GA 30180

Check In

Upon arrival visit the Registration and Check in tent to get your bib and t-shirt. There is currently no plan for advance bib/shirt pick up prior to race day. If this changes, we will let you know.

Gear Check

After checking in, you may leave your bag or personal items at Gear Check. It will be watched by two volunteers. Your bib is your claim ticket.

Seating

There is none. If you have family or friends that are not participating, they may want to bring a camp chair.

Trash

Leave no trace.

Restrooms

There are two. One located in the nearest gravel parking lot (to the right as you walk up the hill away from the start line). The other is at the top of the hill to the right of the gravel track and left of the white house.

Start Line

Runners and Walkers will start at the same time for both races. Runners will gather on the left of the starting line with Walkers on the right. Both the 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run will start at the same time in the same place.

Course

The 5K is two loops around the normal cross-country course.
Most of the course only has space for two abreast, so this means you need to be single file (for most of the course) allowing room for someone to pass.
Even in areas that are wide open, there should still be no groups that are more than two abreast.
Passing should always be on the left. Use common courtesy and announce loudly that you are "passing on the left".
There is no seating at the park, so you may want to make sure your cheerleaders bring a camp chair.
The course will be marked with orange tapes and cones. There will also be white paint directional arrows on the ground as well as course marshals at significant points.
The park will be open to the public so please be considerate of them as well.

Results

Live results will available within minutes of crossing the line.
After crossing the finish line, you will get a link to a spreadsheet with preliminary results.
Final official results will be posted on runsignup.com the same day of the race.

Places and Awards

Fun Run - Awards will be given to the top 3 in 3 categories: Overall, Over Age 13, and Under Age 14. For the Fun Run, there are no gender distinctions.

5K - Medals will awarded to the 1st three in the Overall, Gender, Youth (under 14), and Age Group divisions.

- - Overall 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
  - Male 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
  - Female 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
  - Youth 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (under age 14 has male and female combined; only 3 places total for Youth) - Youth names will be displayed as first initial and last name.
  - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for these age groups
    - M14-19, F14-19
    - M20-29, F20-29
    - M30-39, F30-39
    - M40-49, F40-49
    - M50-59, F50-59
    - M60-69, F60-69
    - M70+, F70+

Those that place in one division will be excluded from placing in lower divisions. Those that place in Overall will not also be awarded for their gender. Those that place in Gender will not also be awarded for their age group.

Consider the unlikely scenario of the first ten finishers all being the same gender and age group. The awards would be given as seen below.

Name             Gender  Age Finish   Place  Award
Andrew Carter      M      21 0:19:57   1     1st Overall
Benjamin Parker    M      22 0:22:15   2     2nd Overall
Charles Bennett    M      23 0:24:06   3     3rd Overall
Daniel Thompson    M      24 0:25:49   4     1st Overall Male
Ethan Mitchell     M      25 0:26:05   5     2nd Overall Male
Finn Harrison      M      25 0:26:47   6     3rd Overall Male
Gabriel Collins    M      24 0:27:27   7     1st M20-29
Henry Walker       M      23 0:27:32   8     2nd M20-29
Isaac Reed         M      22 0:28:01   9     3rd M20-29
Jacob Foster       M      21 0:28:14  10     No Award

In the event of two participants finishing at the exact same time, the one with the smallest bib number will be given the lower place. Bib numbers are assigned in the order of registration.

Pictures

Photographers will be on the course and at the finish line,
The pictures will be free for download from a link sent out after the race.

Race Day Nutrition

Water will provided at mile 0.27 and 1.67 (the same spot - just before and left of the finish line area). Fruits, snacks, and water will also be available at the finish line.

Weather

Sunrise: 6:51 am
Temp: mid 40’s *
Rain: 31% * (the event is rain or shine excluding thunderstorms)
* based on historical average